Power In Pebbles

   In Matthew 9, the narrative is about Jesus on his way to see about the daughter of an official of the area. It reads:

"Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well.” Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well.” The woman was well from then on."

   She touched his robe. The Message translates this as "she lightly touched his robe". Just a fleeting touch, just enough to say that she actually did it. Jesus did not tell her what to do, he was still purposefully on his way with the town official. And she was healed.

   In my mind's eye, I think I can see what happens next, but I'm not sure I understand Jesus' words. In the midst of the crowd moving on the road, He turns and speaks quietly to the woman:

“Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” (NET)

   Not a loud pronouncement of what had just happened, but almost like an aside to her. Then He seems to just walk on His way. She is left there, healed.

   Did she ponder what He had told her? Why had He told her to have courage? What was her life going to be after this miracle?

   He told her to have courage, courage for what?

   She was going back into a life, filled with people who had not been there. They had not seen what she did or heard Jesus' voice. Would they believe what had happened? Was there a reason that she had that might cause her to clam up and just be quiet about the whole thing?

   The Bible is filled with bit players, who enter the Story for a brief moment, and then disappear, never to be heard from again. I would have liked for her to leave a diary of the rest of her life, and what impact this healing had on her, and what her courage, both the touching of His robe and the aftermath, had on her and the people who knew her.

   One small act, a touching, and one quiet word, courage.

   Two small pebbles cast into a lake. How far did the ripples go?

   Don't underestimate the power inherent in a touch or a word.

   We all have pebbles in our hands.